In Congress since the 1980s, California Sen. Barbara Boxer recalls a time when female politicians were treated like second-class citizens in Washington.

When she was first elected to the House in 1983, she said, there were only 28 female representatives and there were no bathrooms or gyms designated for them, as there were for their male counterparts.

Now, Hillary Clinton's nomination as the first female presidential candidate of a major party, "is a big deal for America," Boxer said in an interview with ABC7 from the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.

"It's very emotional for me because I've seen all this change," Boxer said.

Boxer also has a familial connection to Hillary Clinton. Her daughter married Tony Rodham, Clinton's youngest brother.

They later divorced, but the connection means Boxer's grandson is Clinton's nephew. She recalls working with Clinton to plan the youngster's birthday parties.

Boxer said the split between supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders and Clinton was not as divisive as it may have appeared to the public.

"I've been in a lot of conventions," she said. "This one is tame by comparison. Most of the Bernie people are going to be for Hillary. The vast majority. Why? Because Bernie's for Hillary. He's passionate about it."